Lincoln names acting police chief

LINCOLN, Maine — Sgt. Glenn Graef will become the town’s interim police chief on Monday, succeeding Police Chief William Lawrence after the latter was named Lincoln’s new town manager, officials said Friday.

Graef was sworn in as Lincoln’s chief on Friday and will receive an additional $3-per-hour stipend in his new position. Graef is paid $20.50 an hour as the town’s sergeant, Lawrence said.

Lawrence expected the department would run smoothly under Graef, who is encouraged to apply for the open chief’s position, Lawrence said.

“The relationship is the same between Glenn and I, whether as chief and sergeant or town manager and chief,” Lawrence said Friday. “He has been very successful as a sergeant and we expect this will be a fairly smooth transition for him.”

Lawrence said the department’s two openings, for a chief and a patrol officer, were advertised this week and that so far he has received one application for chief.

Lawrence was sworn in as town manager on Monday. He will make $70,000 at his new position, council Chairman Steve Clay has said. That’s about a $1,000 raise. Lawrence had been serving as the town’s interim manager and its police chief since October.

A Mattawamkeag resident, Graef has six years of experience in law enforcement, including three years as a sheriff’s deputy in Waldo County and slightly more than two years as a Lincoln sergeant, Lawrence said.

Officer Mark Fucile recently was promoted to detective, replacing Detective David Cram, who went to East Millinocket and was promoted to sergeant, Lawrence said.

The promotions leave the two open positions on the department roster. The patrol position will remain frozen until it is clear from the state government’s budget how much Lincoln will get in state revenue sharing, Lawrence said.

Officers Brandi Alton, Anthony Redmond and John Walsh are the department’s full-timers. Lincoln also has 10 reserve officers. The department’s two openings are being filled temporarily with about 40 hours of overtime paid to full-timers and 40 hours to reserves, Lawrence said.